A qualitative exploratory study on perceptions and behavior of adolescent girls to menstruation and its management in a rural area of Telangana
Background: Inaccessibility to affordable menstrual materials, poor sanitation, and lack of awareness about safe menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices predispose adolescent girls and women to lower reproductive tract infections. A holistic and sustainable engagement of multidisciplinary healt...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-04-01
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| Series: | MRIMS Journal of Health Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/mjhs.mjhs_78_23 |
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| Summary: | Background:
Inaccessibility to affordable menstrual materials, poor sanitation, and lack of awareness about safe menstrual hygiene management (MHM) practices predispose adolescent girls and women to lower reproductive tract infections. A holistic and sustainable engagement of multidisciplinary health teams helps in promoting MHM practices.
Objectives:
The objective of the study is to explore the knowledge and perceptions of adolescent girls and women to menarche and menstruation and to explore the MHM practices followed in the given community.
Subjects and Methods:
A phenomenological community-based qualitative exploratory study was conducted at ESIC Medical College to explore the perspectives and experiences regarding MHM practices at home and in the schools of the given community. Twenty-three adolescent girls, 3 parents, and 3 teachers were interviewed through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Thematic content analysis of the data was made.
Results:
Out of 120,045 total population, there were 541 adolescent girls, ages between 10 and 16 years. Thematic content analysis of the data identified 23 themes under 10 main constructs. Many study participants perceived menstruation as a closed book and preferred not to disclose in public. Menstruating girls were isolated and restricted from religious duties. They preferred to stay at home during menstruation due to poor sanitation at school. In school, only basic menstrual education was taught to girls by a science teacher.
Conclusions:
Gloomy perceptions about menarche despite having awareness, myths, and taboos related to menstruation prevailing in the community, not up-to-mark MHM practices, school absenteeism during menstruation, inadequate menstrual education, and teachers’ training programs at school were the problems identified in the study. |
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| ISSN: | 2321-7006 2321-7294 |